Vacuum-pan.



No. 743,351. r PATENTBDNOV. 3, 1903. E. N. TRUMP.

VACUUM PAN. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1901.

, N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY m: Mia's PEfzRs cc.. momumn, wnshwcron, o. q;

Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD N. TRUMP, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK VACUUM-PAN.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,351, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed March 13 i901. Serial No; 50,932. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD N. TRUMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Vacuum-Pan, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in vacuum-pans, and is directed especially to means for maintaining a circulation of the richer or more concentrated liquor during the evaporating process. 1

My invention also comprises means for permitting the withdrawal of the concentrated or crystal-bearing liquor from the apparatus during the evaporating process and without interfering with or interrupting the same and without interrupting the said circulation. In this connection I provide means for counterbalancing the vacuum-pressure of the pan at the exit or point of withdrawal of the liquor from the circulatory system. The purpose of maintaininga continuous circulation of the richer liquor is to prevent the caking or clogging of the crystals in the lower part of the pan or in thecrystal-receiving chamber, which would thus prevent the withdrawal of the crystal-bearing liquor from time to time as the same is desired.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of my device with part of the pan broken away to show interior arrangement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of the pump and grinder. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The vacuum-pan 1 is connected with the condenser 18 and suitable exhaust means. It is also provided with the heating-pipes 2, which may be of any form usually employed for the evaporation of liquors. Steam is introduced into these pipes 2 for the purpose of raising the temperature of the solution to induce evaporation. The water evaporated passes over to the condenser. Communicating with the bottom of the pan .1 is the crystal-receiver 3. The opening between said receiver 3 and pan 1 is controlled by the valve 4, which is operated by the valve-wheel 5. This valve is adapted, when desired, to close communication between the vacuum-pan 1 and the crystal-receiver 3. During the operationof the device the valve 4 is kept'open, and the crystals descending by their superior specific gravity into the said receiver 3 would soon fill it and the pipe leading therefrom to the grinder 6 and pump 7, (displacing a large amount of the liquor, which would rise into the vacuum-pan above,) and ifundisturbed would soonbecome hard and could only with difficulty be drawn off at the bottom.

To prevent undue accumulation of crystals in the receiver 3, a circulatory system is provided as follows: A pipe leading from the bottom of the receiver 3 connects the receiver with a centrifugal pump 7, which discharges into the pipe 8, which extends upwardly toa distance considerably above the level of the liquor in the vacuum-pan, where it discharges into the chamber l6-that is, the solution overflows at the top of pipe 8 into said chamber 16 and falls down pipe 19 and enters the bottom ofthe vacuum-pan 1 through valve 15. When valves 20 and 15 are opened and 21 is closed, the liquor will be carried from the bottom of the receiver through the pump 7, piping 8, chamber 16, and piping 19 back to the bottom of the vacuum-pan. In this way a continuous circulation is maintained, which keeps the crystals in a state of suspension in a comparatively small portion of liquor and prevents clogging in any of the pipes. It is an important feature of my device that this return of the richer or crystalbearing liquor should be to that portion of the pan only where the richer or crystal-bearing liquor is found, for if the return were to the upper part of the pan, where the unconcentrated liquor is found, there would be a partial dilution of the returning liquor which had already been concentrated, and the very purpose of the circulation would be in large part, if not totally, defeated,whereas by confining this circulation to the very richest or crystal-bearing liquor only and not allowing it to be dissipated in the unconcentrated liquor the highest efficiency of my apparatus is maintained.

As the crystals accumulate and the solution becomes heavier and heavier, it is desirable to draw it off into ceutrifugals or other suitable form of drier for extracting the liquor loo 16, were diverted by closing valve 20 and sending it through valve 21 and valve 15, the liq uor could not be withdrawn through valve i unless pipe 9 had a vertical extension suflithe vacuum-pan.

cient to main t-ain a column which would counterbalance the vacuum-pressure of the pan, or unless some other means were employed for counterbalancing the vacuum-pressure at the exit-point.

To eliminate any inconvenient requirements as to the length of pipe 9 and the position of the centrifugals 12 and the location of exit-valve 10, I have provided the vertical piping extending above the exit of sulficient length to counterbalance the vacuumpressure of the pan. The upper portion of this piping is connected with an air-chamber having air connection with the upper part of the pan. By this means it is possible to have the exit means at any desired location.

As before stated, pipe 8 extends upwardly above valve 10 to a considerable distance above the level of the solution in the pan and empties into the chamber 16, through which the solution falls into pipe 19 and is finally conducted through cook or valve 15 to As a matter of fact the solution stands in pipe 19 at the same level as it stands in the vacuum-pan 2. The pipe the vacuum-pan, maintains in said chamber the same vacuum-pressure as exists in the pan. Thus it will be seen that chamber 16 permits the liquor which circulates through pipe 8, overflowing at the top, to descend pipe 19 to the level of the liquor in the pan without creating any increased suction on the'column of liquor in pipe 8. The pipe 8 should extend sufficiently above valve 10 to maintain a head or column of liquor sufficient to counterbalance the vacuum-pressure of the pan, so that at a point above valve 10 the pressure of the column in the pipe 8 will be at least equal to atmospheric pressure. As the vacuum-pressure of the pan is not constant, it is well to have a preponderating counterbalancing column of liquor. In connection with a vacuum-pan for the treatment of brine having a normal pressure of about twenty-six inches of mercury I have made the pipe 8 extend above the valve 10 about twentysix feet with satisfactory results. With these conditions existing during the circulation if valve 10 is open liquor may be withdrawn through valve 10 without allowing any air to enter the pan-that is, withoutvdanger of air being sucked back through valve 10 into the vacuum-pan and without decreasing the amount of circulation through the pump and without increasing the pressure of the pump. If the pump were not running, the liquor would normally stand at'the same level in pipes 8 and 19 as the level of the liquor in pan 2. It is therefore obvious that the pump merely has to lift the column of liquor in pipe 8 the distance between the level of the liquor in the pan and the point of overflow of pipe 8 into chamber 16.

As already stated, the purpose of the pump is to establish and maintain the circulation of the crystal-bearing liquor, and thus prevent v the clogging of the pipes, which is one of the great difficulties experienced in extracting crystals from a pan of this character. The additional advantage of my device is that by this continuous circulation the crystals are allowed to accumulate, so as to be taken out with as little liquor as possible. If the crystals were drawn directly from the pan without circulation, we would have clogging at one time and an excess of liquor at other times.

The grinder 6 is provided upon the intake side of the pump to protect the same by pulverizing large crystals and by crushing the scale, which is apt to form on the tubes of the pan, to prevent the same from clogging in the pump or the exit.

The pipe'14 connects the reservoir 13, which receives the liquor flowing from the centrifugals 12, with the bottom of the vacuum-pan, so that said liquor may be drawn back into the pan upon the opening of valve 25 by the suction of said pan. Fresh solution for evaporation may also be supplied to reservoir'l3 and delivered to the pan in the same manner. 17, connecting the top of the chamber 16 with The external circulatory system includes two different circuits of complete circulation v and means for diverting the liquor from one circuit to the otherthat is, the circulation may include 3 6 7 8, valves 21 and 15, or it may include 3 6 7 8, valve 20, 8 16 19, and valve 15. The means for diverting the liquor from one circuit to the other comprises valves 20 and 21. For example, by opening 20 and closing 21 the circulation takes the longer course, including 16 and 19. On the other hand, by closing 20 and opening 21 the circulation is diverted from the circuit including 8 above 20, 16, and 19 and confined to the shorter course, which includes only 3 6 7 8, valves 21 and 15, and the horizontal pipe connecting the two valves.

Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination of a vacuum-pan and means for maintaining a circulation of the richer portion of the liquor from the pan back to the pan.

2. The combination of a vacuum-pan, and means for circulating a portion of the liquor treated therein from the bottom of the pan back to the bottom of the pan.

3. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a cir culating-conductor leading therefrom and delivering back directly into the lower portion of the pan.

4. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a circulating-conductorleading therefrom, and delivering back directly into the lower portion of the pan, and means for maintaining circulation therethrough.

5. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a circulating-conductor leading therefrom and delivering back directly into the lower portion of the pan, said circulating-conductor being under vacuum-pan pressure.

6. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a circulating-conductorleading therefrom and delivering back directly into the lower portion of the pan, and a valve-controlled exit in said conductor.

7. The combination of a vacuum pan, means for maintaining a circulation of the richer portion of the liquor from the pan back to the pan, and means for withdrawing liquor from the circulating system.

8. The combination of a vacuum pan, means for maintaining a circulation of the richer portion of the liquor from the pan back to the pan and means for withdrawing the liquor from the circulating system during the continuancy of'the operation of the pan.

9. The combination of a vacuum pan, means for maintaining a circulation of the richer portion of the liquor from the pan back to the pan and means for withdrawing the liquor from the circulating system without interfering with the circulation and the evaporating process.

10. The combination of a vacuum pan, means for circulating a portion of the liquor treated therein from the bottom of the pan back to the bottom of the pan and means for withdrawing the circulating liquor from said system without interfering with said circulation and the evaporating process.

11. The combination of a vacuum-pan and circulating means for the richer portion of the liquor treated therein, consisting of a system of continuous piping leading from the pan and returning back directly to the lower portion of the pan, said system including means for maintaining circulation therethrough.

12. The combination ofavacuum-pan,heating means located therein, a conducting system connected with the pan and leading from and returning to the lower portion thereof and mechanical means for maintaining circulation therethrough.

13. In combination with a vacuum-pan, an external circulatory system leading from and returning to the lower part of the pan, and a connection from said system with the vacuous space of the pan.

14. The combination of a vacuum-pan,heat-. ing means located therein, a conducting system hermetically connected with the pan and leading from and returning to the lower portion thereof, and mechanical means for maintaining circulation therethrough.

15. In combination with a vacuum-pan, an external circulatory system having a connec tion with the vacuous space of the pan, and leading from and returning to the lower part of the pan, and valve-controlled exit means in said system.

16. In combination with an evaporatingpan, heating means contained therein, an external circulatory system leading from and returning to the portion of the pan containing the richest liquor, and a connection'from said system with the vacuous portion of the pan.

17. The combination ofa vacuum-pan,a circulatory system connected therewith including an upwardly extending pipe and a returnpipe with an air-chamber connected between the two having the same vacuum-pressure as the pan.

18. The combination of a vacuum-pan with a circulatory system connected therewith, means for maintaining circulation therethrough, exit means in said system which includes an upwardly-extending pipe above the exit and a return-pipe with an air-chamber connected between them at the same vacuumpressure as the pan. 7

19. The combination ofa vacuum-pan,a circulatory system connected therewith including an upwardly-extending pipe and a returnpipe with an air-chamber connected between the two,having an air connection with the pan.

20. The combination of a vacuum-pan,a circulatory system connected therewith, including an upwardly-extending pipe and a returnpipe, and a chamber connected between the two, having a pipe connecting it with the pan above the surface of the liquor.

21. The combination of a vacuum-pan for crystallizable liquors, a system of piping connected therewith, means for circulating the liquor therethrough from the pan back to the pan, valve-controlled exit means in said system of piping, said system including an upwardly-extending pipe, areturn-pipe and a chamber having the same vacuum-pressure as that of the pan intermediate the two pipes, the former adapted to discharge into the chamber at a height sufficiently above the exit to maintain a column that will counterbalance the vacuum.

22. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a system of piping connected therewith, means for circulating the liquor therethrough, exit means in said system of piping, said system including an upwardly-extending pipe above the exit, a return-pipe and a chamber having the same vacuum-pressure as that of the pan connected with and intermediate the two pipes so arranged that the former will discharge into the chamber at a height sufficiently above the exit to maintain a column of the circulating liquor in the upwardly-extending pipe that will counterbalance the vacuum.

23. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a system of piping connected therewith, means for circulating liquor theret-hrough, exit means in said system of piping, said system including a pipe extending above the exit to a height sufficient to maintain a column of the circulating liquor that will counterbalance the vacuum of the pan, and a chamber at the same vacuum-pressure as that of the pan, for receiving the overflow from the upcrystal-receiving chamber opening into a lower extension of the pan, a circulatory system leading from the crystal-receiving chamber and delivering into the bottom of the pan, and including an upwardly-extending pipe, a return-pipe and a chamber connected between the two having the same vacuum-pressure.

26. In combination with a vacuum-pan, an external circulatory system having connec tion with the vacuous space of the pan, leading from and returning to the lower part of the pan and means for maintaining circulation therethrough.

27. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a crystal-receiving chamber at the bottom thereof and a circulatory system having connection with the vacuous space of the pan, leading from the lower part of the crystal-receiver and delivering back approximate the junction of the pan and receiver.

28. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a crystal-receiving chamber beneath and opening into the bottom of the pan, and a circulatory system having connection with the vacuous space of the pan, leading from the crystal-receivingcha mber and deliverin g back near the bottom of the pan.

29. In combination with a liquor-treating apparatus, a circulating system connected therewith, a pump for establishing and maintaining flow through the same, and a mill on the intake side thereof for controlling the size of the solid bodies carried by the liquor through the pump, the mill and pump operated by the same shaft.

80. In combination with a liquor-treating apparatus a circulatory system connected therewith, means for maintaining circulation therethrough, comprising a pump having a vertical axis and a mill on its'intake side driven by a common shaft.

31. The combination of a vacuum-pan, a crystal-receiving chamber located beneath the pan and having a valve-controlled communication therewith, and a circulatory system leading from the crystal-receiving chamber and delivering back into the lower part of the pan.

32. The combination of a .vacuum-pan, a crystal-receivin g chamber vertically beneath and opening into the bottom of the pan, a valve for controlling the communication between the crystal-receiving chamber and the pan and a circulatory system leading from the crystal-receiving chamber and delivering back near the bottom of the pan.

33. A vacuum-pan having an external circulatory system including two different circuits of complete circulation, and means for diverting the liquor from one circuit to the other. i

34. A vacuum-pan having an external circulatory system including two different circuits of complete circulation, means for diverting the liquor from one circuit to the other I and means for maintaining a circulation of the richer portion of the liquor from the pan back to the pan.

35. A vacuum-pan having an external circulatory system including two different circuits of complete circulation, means for diverting the liquor from one circuit to the other, said circulatory system leading from the bottom of the pan back to the bottom thereof.

36. The combination with a vacuum-pan having a contracted lower end of an external circulatory system leading from and returning to the contracted portion of the pan.

37. The combination of a vacuum-pan and acirculating system leading from and delivering back to that portion of the pan in which the richer liquor resides.

EDWARD N. TRUMP.

Witnesses:

A. H. GREEN, J r., GEO. G. FRYER.

ICO 

